Medical Review - Dr Lyndon Mascarenhas, Toronto

[Ptitchou 117]

My interview is Feb 8, but as I've been recovering from COVID (lovely Xmas gift from my visiting husband! 😓), I needed to delay my medical a little longer, fully accepting that it might not arrive at the consulate in time. 

 

I spoke with Dr. Mascarenhas ahead of time, explaining the situation to him, and he let me know that if it wasn't ready in time, he'd give me a deferral letter to bring with me. They allowed me to submit my passport photo electronically ahead of time, so they didn't need a hard copy.

 

My appointment was at 1:30pm today. It was very busy, but I was seen within 5 minutes. COVID safety protocol was decent. I filled out paperwork asking for medical history, surgeries, medications, any history of alcohol or drugs abuse (no questions about use itself or any questions about cannabis, for any Canadians who might wonder), and any history or psychological or psychiatric issues such a schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or Major Depressive Disorder. I stated I have depression and ADHD, which I'm medicated for, but not Major Depressive Disorder. No questions were asked on this or anything else. 

 

He was nice, though very quick and to the point. He looked over everything, said it looked fine and was satisfied with my titre test results as proof of immunization (MMR, varicella immunity from chicken pox) and a letter from my GP for Tetanus and Flu shots.

 

I explained to him that there was a spot of COVID pneumonia on my lower right lobe as detected in my CT scan a few weeks ago, so they may see something there when looking at my x-ray. He said thank you for the heads up on that. The lab will be faxing my results to my doctor, since I already needed a Post-COVID follow-up x-ray and we wanted to save on radiation exposure. 

 

He explained very clearly how things would go - go pay at the counter, then down to the basement for the x-ray, then across the street for the urine and bloodwork (which are both only for STD detection). I am to email him on Thursday evening and find out whether or not the results came back in time. If so, he will email them to the consulate ASAP on Friday. If not, I have to pop back over to his office and pick up my deferral letter. 

 

Super quick, super nice, and surprisingly hassle-free. Not even a physical exam or blood pressure taken. Height & weight was verbally recorded and the only thing he asked about was why I had a particular surgery (was an accident that required nerve repair). He was satisfied with a simple answer. 

 

The x-ray tech was super nice, as was the tech who took my blood. All in all a decent experience. 

 

[pooj97 89]

This was very helpful, thank you! My fiancé is also planning on going to Dr. Mascarenhas for his k1 interview but we don’t see too many medical exam reviews. 

[Ptitchou 117]

Update: they emailed me to tell me my package has been sent to Montreal today. Much faster than the 10 days expected.

[PawlD 17]

I also did my medical with Dr Mascarenhas. Similar experience with everything being hassle free and quick. The office was very busy but my appointment time was pretty much spot on. I went February 22 and they sent the package directly to Montreal on March 3, my interview is scheduled for March 8. 

I learned that I should’ve gotten my vaccination information together beforehand. Ontario health is currently taking 2 weeks to return titre test results.

Edited March 4, 2021 by PawlD

[waterlooengineer 30]

On 3/4/2021 at 10:42 AM, PawlD said:

I also did my medical with Dr Mascarenhas. Similar experience with everything being hassle free and quick. The office was very busy but my appointment time was pretty much spot on. I went February 22 and they sent the package directly to Montreal on March 3, my interview is scheduled for March 8. 

I learned that I should’ve gotten my vaccination information together beforehand. Ontario health is currently taking 2 weeks to return titre test results.

 

How to get the vaccination records? Will we be getting vaccinated on site during our medicals? I got all my required vaccines when I was a kid in my home country and since I have moved to Canada, I havent had any vaccines (apart from the recent Covid shots). How will Ontario Health know what I have bene vaccinated prior to coming to Canada?

[mam521 2,062]

55 minutes ago, waterlooengineer said:

 

How to get the vaccination records? Will we be getting vaccinated on site during our medicals? I got all my required vaccines when I was a kid in my home country and since I have moved to Canada, I havent had any vaccines (apart from the recent Covid shots). How will Ontario Health know what I have bene vaccinated prior to coming to Canada?

If you don't have your public health records from when you were a child, you will have to do a Titres test which will demonstrate if your body has immunity.  If there are any fails, then you will need that vaccine. 

 

If you have not had any vaccines since childhood, you will definitely need a vaccine for tetanus.  You can get it through public health if you schedule now and it will typically not have an out of pocket cost.   

 

Some providers do issue vaccinations at the medical, some do not.  If they do, it is often at a cost.  It's best if you can have them complete prior to your medical with the panel physician. 

 

Vaccines needed are on the CDC site here: https://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/laws-regs/vaccination-immigration/revised-vaccination-immigration-faq.html#whatvaccines

[waterlooengineer 30]

35 minutes ago, mam521 said:

If you don't have your public health records from when you were a child, you will have to do a Titres test which will demonstrate if your body has immunity.  If there are any fails, then you will need that vaccine. 

 

If you have not had any vaccines since childhood, you will definitely need a vaccine for tetanus.  You can get it through public health if you schedule now and it will typically not have an out of pocket cost.   

 

Some providers do issue vaccinations at the medical, some do not.  If they do, it is often at a cost.  It's best if you can have them complete prior to your medical with the panel physician. 

 

Vaccines needed are on the CDC site here: https://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/laws-regs/vaccination-immigration/revised-vaccination-immigration-faq.html#whatvaccines

Thank you! Any leads on how to get a Titres test in Ontario? Would we need a referral from a doctor to get this completed? 

[mam521 2,062]

18 hours ago, waterlooengineer said:

Thank you! Any leads on how to get a Titres test in Ontario? Would we need a referral from a doctor to get this completed? 

Sorry, I don't know in ON.  @PawlD seems to know more - as mentioned above, they had their titres done by Ontario Health. 

[Ptitchou 117]

On 7/6/2021 at 3:58 PM, waterlooengineer said:

Thank you! Any leads on how to get a Titres test in Ontario? Would we need a referral from a doctor to get this completed? 

I just asked my family doctor about it and she gave me a requisition form to bring to any lab. Just tell your doctor you lost your immunization records and give them the list of what the US Visa doc requires and they'll add it to the list - it's just like any other blood test. You don't pay if you have OHIP.

Edited July 7, 2021 by Ptitchou

[SamC88 6]

Do I have to get a titre test to prove immunization for MMR if I have it logged on the yellow immunization card I got as a child? 

[sdmzzz 1]

I have a question RE: The passport photos for the medical.  

The gov website indicates these are required for the medical:

Five (5) passport-sized color photographs (taken less than 6-months ago and date-stamped) 
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Supplements/Supplements_by_Post/MTL-Montreal.html#med_exam_instructions

 

As we all are aware, it took a lot longer than 6 months for them to review my Form 130A with the passport photo. Would this mean that I need to get new photos? They won't match the ones submitted to UCSIS or NVC.

[Leo The Great 141]

10 minutes ago, sdmzzz said:

I have a question RE: The passport photos for the medical.  

The gov website indicates these are required for the medical:

Five (5) passport-sized color photographs (taken less than 6-months ago and date-stamped) 
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Supplements/Supplements_by_Post/MTL-Montreal.html#med_exam_instructions

 

As we all are aware, it took a lot longer than 6 months for them to review my Form 130A with the passport photo. Would this mean that I need to get new photos? They won't match the ones submitted to UCSIS or NVC.

Re: Dr Lyndon Mascarenhas - When you send an email for appointment after registration, doctor office will ask you to take digital photo from your mobile phone camera and email them. No need for 5 photographs as  mentioned on the website.